Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has described reports of a bust-up with Lionel Messi as "inaccurate and ill-intentioned" and said he has the backing of all the players in his squad.
Talk has been rife of disagreements and heated exchanges between the pair while rumours of a move to Chelsea have grown with Catalan radio saying the London club has contacted the players' father and agent Jorge.
Spanish sports newspaper Marca claimed that many players are unhappy with the former Barca player's tactical and coaching methods since he replaced Gerardo Martino as coach in the summer.
Captains Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta had to reportedly intervene to stop Enrique from reprimanding Messi after the South American failed to report to training on Monday.
Enrique reiterated that Messi’s absence was due to illness, but Catalan newspaper Sport claimed the pair’s relationship had deteriorated so much in recent weeks that Messi was considering leaving the club he joined at the age of 13.
When asked about reported friction with Messi at a press conference on Wednesday, Enrique said: “I neither confirm nor deny those reports.
“The things that are part of the team always remain in the changing room.
“Messi is the best player in the world and I have said this many times.
“I have the same relationship with all my players that I had at the start of the season. That has not changed.
“Messi did not train on Monday because he had gastroenteritis. That was the club statement and that was the reality.”
Messi trained on Wednesday morning with the rest of his team-mates ahead of Thursday’s Copa del Rey match against Elche.
He and Brazilian striker Neymar were on the bench in Sunday's 1-0 La Liga defeat at Real Sociedad, which cost Barca the chance to overtake Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Division.
And Enrique said: “The continuity of a coach always depends on results. That is the first lesson they teach you when you do the coaching course.
“I feel I have the backing of the club as well as of the players.
“I have no doubt in my mind. I have not received an ultimatum.
“I am doing my job with the same professionalism as when I got here. I have nothing to regret up to now with respect to my personal treatment with my players.”
Barca trail Real Madrid by a point, having played a game more, after they were unable to respond to Jordi Alba’s early own goal in San Sebastian.
“To lose at Real (Sociedad) was a hammer blow that affected not only the team but the coaching staff,” Enrique said. “But I feel confident and motivated.
“I’m focusing on the things that we can improve on and not on other things that are out of my control.”
Enrique did express his disappointment at the decision by the club to sack sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta on Monday, just one week after losing their appeal to overturn a one-year transfer ban imposed by FIFA for violating rules for registering youth players.
Former captain Carles Puyol left his role as Zubizarreta’s assistant hours later.
“The dismissal of Zubi is sad news for me,” Enrique said. “Not only because he was the one that brought me to this club but because having worked with him, he has done an excellent job.”
Zubizarreta has been heavily criticised for the club’s signings in the summer, which was Barca’s last opportunity to bring in new players before January 2016.
Barca signed Luis Suarez from Liverpool but the Uruguay forward has struck just once in nine La Liga games.
Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen has been plagued by injuries and has not played for Barca since his #15million move from Arsenal in August.
Brazilian defender Douglas has also failed to impress, making just three appearances since joining the club from Sao Paulo in the summer.
